Camden

Camden's population increased by about 22,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Camden increased by 11.3%, from about 198,000 to 220,000.

The addition of about 22,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Camden was home to, on average, 72 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Camden

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Camden increased by one year, from 32 to 33 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 5,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 13.0% of people in Camden are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Camden saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (40.5%) households in Camden had only one person, compared with 46.1% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.7% to 9.8%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of one-person households occurred in Newham (from 34.0% to 26.1%).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

Camden saw England's largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

In 2011, just under 1 in 18 (5.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Camden said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 4.2% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week increased from 7.6% to 7.7%.

Welwyn Hatfield saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 6.6% to 8.0%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Camden increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Camden, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Camden

The percentage of Camden residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.6% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Camden residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92.2%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Camden, but at a slower rate than in Islington (one of the most statistically similar areas to Camden based on ONS area classifications).

In Camden, the proportion of private renting increased from 25.1% in 2001 to 32.2% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Islington increased from 16.6% to 27.0%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15.3% to 25.1%.

The rate of social housing in Camden fell from 37.2% to 33.1%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 34.7% to 32.2%.

Private renting in Camden increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Camden, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Camden

In 2011, 16.1% of Camden residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 12.1% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 66.3% of people in Camden said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 73.2% in 2001. About 8.2% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 8.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.8% to 5.6%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Camden increased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Camden residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.0%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.3% in 2001. The percentage of Camden residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.6% to 10.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Camden decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Camden, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Camden

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Camden was among those who said they had no religion, rising 7.6 points.

In 2011, 32.1% of respondents in Camden gave this religion on the census compared with 24.5% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.6%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 42.7% said they were Christian, compared with 52.4% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 11.1% to 25.9%.

In Camden, 21% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 10% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Camden increased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Camden by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Camden, while rising in statistically similar Islington.

In Camden, the proportion came down from 73.0% in 2001 to 71.7% in 2011, while across England it went up from 69.9% to 70.9%. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 62.4% to 59.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Camden remained close to 22.1%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 5.4% to 6.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Camden stood out from other areas for relationships

The percentage of married people increased here, while falling across London and England.

In Camden, the proportion went up from 29.1% in 2001 to 30.4% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Camden increased from 54.5% to 55.0%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 10.6%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of employed people increased here, but at a slower rate than in statistically similar Islington.

In Camden, the proportion of employed people increased from 45.2% in 2001 to 46.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Islington increased from 47.1% to 50.5%.

Across London, the share of employed people decreased from 51.3% to 50.7%.

The rate of unemployment in Camden fell from 4.9% to 4.5%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 11.5% to 13.4%.

The rate of employment was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Camden residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, 1.5% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Camden remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links